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By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
Earning points in the standings is never a bad thing. On Thursday afternoon, the Wellesley High School boys varsity soccer team did just so, exiting their home pitch with a point in their back pocket.
However, after hitting a pipe and having a pair of Brendan Clare penalty kicks saved in the second half, the feeling amongst the Raiders (1-0-1) and their coaches was that it should have been more than a 1-1 tie for Wellesley.
“We created enough opportunities to win,” said head coach Chris DiCeccia following the draw. “We just failed to put them away. [We] played a sound 65-70 minutes, but had a 10-15 minute lapse of unorganized and panicked play. On to the next.”
Mason Shultz (10) fights off a pair of defenders and moves the ball up the field. Photos by Mike Flanagan
Framingham evened the score at one with 29:50 to play. Despite surrendering the tying goal, Wellesley responded extremely well and began to completely dominate play. With 18:30 remaining, Haeberlin broke in on an uncontested breakaway, looking for his second of the day. The senior booted a shot that beat the Framingham keeper, but rang off the left pipe and out of play, keeping the game knotted at one.
With 10:32 to play, a handball in the box gave Wellesley a chance to reclaim the lead with a penalty kick. Brendan Clare took the bid for the Raiders, but the senior’s shot was saved and knocked out of play. With just over three minutes remaining, Clare got another chance to give Wellesley back the lead on a PK following another Framingham handball. Clare’s shot was again saved with a dive to the left by the Framingham keeper, stunning Wellesley. Again, the game remained 1-1. Time would run out and the game finished as a draw.
Wellesley will look to get back in the win column when the Raiders host Brookline on September 19.
For funny and incisive sports analysis, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter and Instagram @flano0.
